President's Message

UHJA Medal Finals Is A Wrap!

Swagger, an 11 year old Mecklenberg warmblood gelding, topped the $1000 Hunter 2016 Derby scores at the UHJA Medal Finals. Earning scores in the eighties, Swagger was ridden by his owner, Gabriella Zupancic. Popular J, owned and ridden by Amy Brubacker, earned both Reserve Champion and third place prize money with Popular J and Friscoti. Top jumper money in the $500 High Jumper Classic went to Czarina, owned by Kaitlyn Jay and ridden by Denise Tilly. Elise Van Damme with Bonjorno rode to the Reserve Championship. Twilight, ridden by Allison Wicks and owned by Rose Ranch. earned the $500 Feather Fancee Low Jumper Classic Championship. Liz Bates with Wait and See rode to Reserve Champion. The popular Pick Your Partner Class drew 12 teams and was won by Frascoti with owner Amy Brubaker and trainer Jodi Ray. Brubaker also solidified her grip on the Horse Crazy Hunter Series by earning top scores in the final round with Friscoti and Popular J.

The entertaining Rotating Rider top honors were awarded to Liz Bates and Gabby Zupancic aboard There’s and App for That and Avion. Emily Wagstaff and Allie Wicks with Zymon and Drago were within hundreths of a second timewise but suffered a rail. The UHJA Medal finals classes were judged by Chance Arakalian from Rancho Sante Fe, California. Courses for hunters and equitation were designed by Arakalian.

Although the competition season may have come to an end for 2016, two important events remain. Ballots for UHJA Board positions, numerous rule changes, sportsmanship awards, Halo award and more are being prepared for mailing on or before 10/28. UHJA Members can return the ballots by mail after carefully reading and following ballot instructions. Ballots can also be submitted in person at UHJA’s final meeting in 2016, scheduled for November 14, 7pm, at Buca di Beppo, 935 E., Fort Union in Midvale. December 3 is the 2016 date for the annual UHJA banquet. This year, the year end festivity has been moved to the Raddison Hotel, 215 W. South Temple.. Hopefully, there will be a good turnout. The annual dinner, entertainment and silent auction are being headed up by Mariah O’Malley and Melissa Kovner with assistance from numerous UHJA members. Items for the auction are needed. Jodi Ray is arranging a myriad of UHJA year end awards to be displayed and presented at the banquet. Invitations should be in the mail before the end of the month.

Just one more IMPORTANT thing! If you plan to vote this year, please vote "YES" for the Rec and Zoo bond when you go to polls on November 8 or mail in your ballot. Should this bill pass, the S. Jordan Equestrian Park is due to become the recipient of $16 million dollars which can be used to make significant improvement through out the park. Steve McIntyre, a member of the Advisory Board attended the most recent UHJA Board meeting and urged all attendees and UHJA members to vote for the bill in the upcoming election.

Barbara WicksUHJA President

Latest News

There was an issue with the ballots and many were returned to the senders because the envelopes were too thick to mail. Due to this mailing issue, the date for voting on rule changes has been extended for returned ballots to be re-mailed and received by November 23 (Numerous ballots were returned to senders because of their thickness.) They can be re-mailed in a #10 envelope (letter size envelope). Votes will be counted on November 23rd.